Paul L Murphy

No, wartime pins have a totally different design, even when they feature planes.

I believe these are post war. I remember coming across something similar but I cannot recall where. The style of manufacture on these is different from the earlier badges, I think they date from the 70s or 80s if my (defective) memory is correct.

This is a Japanese Civil Defense uniform. It is for a civil defense officer with the equivalent rank of a captain in the military. These are actually very difficult to find in Japan in decent condition for some reason, especially at such a senior rank. A nice set. Best regards, Paul

Chris, They are the civilian version of the Medaille des Blesses, a lot scarcer than the military version but the same ambigious status, ie. you can buy the medal and wear it at the end of your medal bar but the government does not provide one to you.

Chris, Bad news, this is what they hand out in the little kiddie packs that they give to passengers below the age of 12. Paul

Hi Mike, Mine has not yet arrived, probably due to Christmas post delays. In almost 20 years collecting Japanese medals this is the first Pawlonia Flowers certificate I have seen for sale ! Now all I need to do is find the certificate for the Order of the Chrysanthemum, Cultural Decoration, Golden Kite 1st Class ...... ok, now I am dreaming again ! Paul

Gentlemen, The abovementioned certificate to French for the Rising Sun that went for GBP2,000 has found a very good home, I was the winning bidder. This is the certificate for the Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun with Pawlonia Leaves and was hand signed by the Taisho Emperor. It is a phenomenally rare certificate, the fact that it was awarded to French makes it more interesting but irrespective of the recipient it is a very rare item. I was prepared to go much much higher in price to get this so I was rather happy at the final bid. Cheers, Paul

Danny, Can we see the cap badge as well ??? Do you know did he leave a statement with the Bureau of Military History in Cathal Brugha Barracks ? If so it will obviously help to fill the gaps in your knowledge of his activities during that important time in our history. Best regards, Paul

I think we have reached a point where it is finally possible for us to make a film which shows "the other side" as being human and subject to the same fears and emotions as soldiers on "our side". I am looking forward to it. The fact that Clint Eastwood is involved makes me hope that it will be a decent film, not some U-571 crap.

Hi Larry, This is the modern version of the cross. The size of the donation is mentioned in my book, I think from memory it is JPY500,000, but if you make that donation to them you will receive one of these. The quality of the cross itself is consistent with older pieces, which is nice. Cheers, Paul

What I have on him so far, up to and including his WWI service, is as follows : - Served with the 1st Batt. E. Lancs. in Boer War (30th Foot). The AGS is renamed and the E.Lancs were not entitled to the bar. Hemmings may have been a staff officer ? Who was who entry is : - b. 1882, commd E. Lance Regt. 1900; served S. African War 1990-02, Somaliland 1903; resigned commission 1906; spent nine years exploring and great game hunting in the interior of Africa; served with the Portuguese forces in Machemba and Matuka Expedition. Joined S. African Forces, Sept 1914, Capt and Adjudant Rand Rifles, Boer Rebellion and German S.W. A.frica campaign; Capt & Adjudant, 3rd S. African Infantry, Aug1915, Major 1915; served with S. African Forces in Eqypt, Dec 1915, lost right arm at battle of Agagir; France, July 1916, battle of Somme, (again wounded); battle of Passchendale, gassed, 20 Sep 1917; wounded Gouzancourt 1918, commanded 3rd S.A.Inf. Sep-Oct 1917 (despatches thrice, DSO, Croix de Guerre). Served as GSO 1st Grade on General Crozier?s Mission in Lithuania 1919-20 (Oct 1919 ? Mar 1920), operations against Bolsheviks; Commanded G Company Auxiliary Div Royal Irish Constabulary operations against the rebels 1922, commanded S.E. Brigade Ulster Special Constabulary 1922-26. D.S.O. List further shows : - b. 28.6.82; s. of Dr J Hemming M.A., and Lily Florence E., d. of Sir W Jenner; educ. privately; Bedford Grammar School; ... Lt Col 1918, commanding S. African Reserve Battn; retired, disability pay. ... commanded temporarily 3rd S.A.Inf Sep-Oct 1917 and Dec1917-Jan1918. M.I.D. 9/7/1915 for services in S.W. Africa with Rand Rifles. DSO London Gazette 3/6/1918, Recommendation states ?This officer has served with his regiment at the front since January 1916 with the exception of periods of absence on account of wounds. He has been 2nd in command of a battalion and for short periods in command and although suffering much pain from the stump of an arm lost in action, he has borne it with the greatest courage, and after every operation or wound, has returned to duty at the earliest possible moment. He has been three times wounded.? M.I.D. 29/5/1918.

Here is the bar in question.

Hi Jacky, No magic hat, I wish I did have one ! I will try to dig out a photo of this and post it. The bar consists of DSO, Queens South Africa (Cape Colony, Jo'burg and Paarderberg bars), Kings South Africa (usual 2 bars), Africa General Service Medal (Somalilan 1902-04 bar) 1914-15 Star, BWM, Victory with MID, Croix de Guerre 1914-18 with bronze palm. Cheers, Paul

One of the German groups in my collection includes the medals for the Memel and Sudetenland campaigns awarded when the recipient was a crew member on the Leipzig. Does anyone have information as to what the Leipzig did which allowed some/all of its crew to earn these medals ? The recipient later volunteered for the U-Boat arm, served on U196 and earned the Iron Cross 1st Class, surviving the war in the process. Any help on the Leipzig part of his career would be appreciated. Regards, Paul

One of the medal groups in my collection is a DSO group to Lt Colonel H S J L Hemming. This gentleman had a rather interesting career but during a lull between the end of the Boer War and the start of WWI he went off and served with the Portuguese army in the "Machemba and Matuka Expedition". Does anyone have any information on these expeditions since I have drawn a blank. He later went on to serve in WWI with the South African forces, lost his right arm at the Battle of Agadir, wounded on the Somme, gasssed at Passchendale, wounded at Gouzancourt in 1918 (you would think by now he would have learned how to duck ), DSO, 3 MIDs and a French Croix de Guerre. After this he served in Lithuania with General Crozier and ended up in Ireland as a company commander in the Auxiliary Division of the RIC, which is why I have it. I have plenty of information on everything excpet the Machemba and Matuka part of his career, including lots of rather gory medical records about the aftermath of losing his arm, yeuck ! If anyone could help fill in the gap I would appreciate it. Cheers, Paul

Does nobody out there have an idea on this one ????

Ed, Reading down the awards they are Red Star, Medal for Military Service (no number), Red Banner, Red Star, Red Banner, Red Star, Medal for Victory against Germany, Medal for Capture of Berlin, Medal for 30th anniversary of Armed Forces, Medal for Liberation of Prague. I am nor totally sure on the last three medals but the others are certain. Cheers, Paul

Gentlemen, Excellent and many thanks. A friend of mine has it at the moment and asked for my help in identifying it. The quality of manufacture is mediocre, not at all in line with the official Vatican orders. As Peter said, a nice little curiosity. Best regards, Paul

I cannot find this in any of my reference books, but having said that I am not particularly good on Vatican awards. Anyone here able to identify what it is ? Unfortunately it came without a ribbon so if you know what the ribbon is that would also be a great help. Here is the obverse and the reverse Regards, Paul

One of my latest purchases is a British Crimea Medal, no bars, to a French recipient. The naming on the edge says "6357 PARIS AU 50 2 G". Can anyone shed some more light on what this means ? I am presuming 2 G refers to 2nd Grenadier Regiment or the like but it has me puzzled. Cheers, Paul

Many thanks Dragomir ! It looks like we have a case of a colour blind military tailor and an unobservant officer !

It might be Arthus Bertrand in Paris.

The medals are locked away in a UK bank vault at the moment so I cannot access them to take a photo of the reverse. I do not recall it being a Gaunt manufacture but I will certainly check when I next have them in hand. Many thanks to Ed for the information on the Iranian order. After I relocate to London and get settled in I will try to get access to French records regarding their military attaches in Iran during this period. It would be nice to put a name and face to it.

Do you have the RIC numbers for these ? I particularly like the Vespasian with the eagle reverse. Denarii are my favourite Roman coin and I have about 200, mainly Antoines since I have a particular regard for Trajan as an emperor.

Mike, The nationality of the recipient was not what determined the ribbon colour. The green and red ribbon was used for awards that were presented by the Cambodian Government and the white and yellow ribbon was used for awards presented by the French Metropolitan Government. The fact that this officer's award was presented by the Cambodians, rather than the French, suggests he actually served in Cambodia at some time rather than it being a more general "Indochina" type French bestowal. The green ribbon with narrow yellow stripes is indeed a mystery. I suspect it belongs to a different Cambodian order and was mixed in by mistake by whatever military tailor put together the ribbon bar. Regards, Paul